Political Quotes

“small rural water systems are facing compliance deadlines, and need assistance without burdensome matching funding requirements. The Small Community Drinking Water Funding Act that I am introducing today with Senators Ensign, Boxer, Murray, Clinton, Baucus, Sanders, and Conrad, amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a Small Public Water System Assistance Program. This program is to support small water systems in complying with national primary drinking water regulations, and includes a program for Indian tribes. The smallest public water systems, which serve fewer than 3,300 people, represent 85 percent of all public water systems. Small public water systems serving fewer than 10,000 people represent 94 percent of all public water systems. Small communities throughout Nevada would benefit from a grant program designed to provide funding for water quality projects without a difficult matching requirement; and Federal programs in effect as of the date of enactment of this act do not adequately meet the needs of small communities in Nevada with respect to public water systems. The Small Community Drinking Water Funding Act will authorize $750,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2014. Nevada should be able to secure a substantial portion of this funding because of the State's rural water systems needs.”